Condenser



Nov. 4, i930. J GRACE 1,780,478

CONDENSER Filed Jan.` 1e, 1930 2 sheds-sheer 1 Jo NF'. Raon.

H 1N ENTQR 1AT ORNEY Nov. 4, 1930. J. F. GRACE l 1,780,478

v coNDENsER File@ Jan. 1e, 1930 z-sneets-sheet 2 0, 'Il 'llllllllvlll/III.vlll/llllll/110111111111 A TTORNEY` `indented Nov. 4, i930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN F. GRCE, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WORTHINGTON PMP AND MACHINERY CORPORA'IIIION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F 'VIR- GINI CON DCENSER Application led January 16, 1930. Serial No. 421,199.

This invention relates to steam condensers of the surface type and an object of the in- -vention is to provide a condenser structure in which the weight of the condenser, water therein etc. is distributed in such manner as to relieve the turbine supporting structure and condenser supporting springs of a large percentage of such weight.4

More specifically, the present invent-ion comprehends a condenser structure wherein the water boxes, tube heads, hot well and support plates are supported independently of the condenser shell, being connected to the shell by expansion joints to compensate for relative movements of the parts.

With these and other objects in view as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consistsin various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection vrith the accompanying drawings, showing a condenser' of the preferred form as embodied in the present invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

- In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved condenser.

Figure 2 is ay longitudinal section through the condenser, and Figure 3 is a vertical section through the condenser takenr on the line 3 3 of Figure- 2.

Referring more-particularly to the drawings, the improved condenser-comprises a shell 1 which is composed of an intermediate section 2 and end sections 3 and 4. The water boxes l5 and l(i are rigidly connected to the end sections 3 and 4 respectively. while the fend sections are connected to the intermediate section 2 by expansion joints 7. The exhaust steam inlet or inlets 8, two of which are shown in the drawings lare connected to the end sections 3 and 4 of the condenser shell 1 b v the expansion joints 7 and to the central or intermediate section 2 by the'expansion joints 9, thus providing iexible connect-i-ons between the end and intermediate sections of thecondenser and between the exhaust steam inlets and the condenser shell to compensate for relative movement of these members. The hot-well 1 0 is also connected to the intermediate section 2 by the expansion joints 9 for the same purpose. The hot well 10, end sections 3 and 4, and water boxes 5 and 6 are supported upon the foundation 11 independently of the intermediate section 2 of the condenser; that is the hot well 10 rests firmly upon and is attached, in any suitable manner, to 'the foundation 11 while upstanding supports 12 are formed upon the foundation 1l and engage the water boxes 5 and 6 for firmly supporting theses members and the end sections of the condenser shell from the foundation. The intermediate or central section 2 of the condenser shell is supported in the usual manner from the foundation 11 by the sup# ports 14, support springs 15 and the supporting brac ets 16 which are carried by the condenser shell:

- The'tubes 17 which serve to circulate the cooling water from one of the water boxes to the other,.extend through the steam space of the condenser shell as is usual' in condenser structures .of the surface type. These tubes 17 may have their ends expanded into the tube sheets 18 or otherwise suitably connected thereto provide fluid tight joints and the are shown in Figure 2 of thev drawings as eing bowed upwardly or in a vertical plane to accommodate expansion and contraction of the tubes under temperature variances within the condenser. It is to be understood, of course, that lcondensers of this type operating upon varying loads are subject to temperature variances within a wide range which causes expansion and contradtion of the tubes relative to the condenser'ca'sing etc. and accommodation for such expansion and contraction must be made to prevent rupturing of -the joints between the tubes and the tube heads and the consequent leakage of the circulating cooling water into the condensing space and its mixture with theicondensate.

lVhile in Figure 2 of theA drawings the tubes are illustrated as being bowed, and in a vertical plane, it is to be understood that they may he bowed in anymanner found practical in the construction of the condenser,

tubes may be bowed laterally, preferably towards the exhaust steam inlet or inlets of the condenser although they may be bowed away from the exhaust steam inlets. Also if the tubes are connected to the tube heads in approved manners which will compensate for their ends by a plurality of support plates 20 and since it is desired in the present invention to relieve the turbine (not shown) and its supportin structure from as much weight as posslble and also to relieve the supports 14 and springs 15 of weight and provide distribution of such weight, the support plates 20 are in turn supported from the foundation 11 through the hot well 10 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the draw- 111 s.

he various support plates 20 are carried by supporting beams 21 which are in turn attached t-o suitable brackets 22. The brackets 22 are att-ached or otherwise suitably connected rigidly to the hot well 10 thereby supporting the weight, of the support plates, and the tubes intermediate their ends, together with the water therein, from the hot Well 10 and consequently from the foundation 11. This manner of support together with the supports 12 will relieve the springs 15 and supports 14 and the turbine supporting structure (not shown) of the weight of the water boxes, tubes', support plates and the water in the water boxes and tubes. The expansion joints 7 and 9 will permit relative movement of the intermediate section 2 and the end sections 3 and 4 supported directly from the foundation 11 to accommodate varying conditions in the condenser operation.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangment of parts shown but that this may be modified widely within the invention as detined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a condenser, a shell, a hot well,tubes in said shell, an expansion joint connecting said hot well and shell, and support plates for said tubes rigidly connected to and supported from said hot well.

' 2. In a condenser, a shell, a hot well, tubes in said shell, an expansion joint connecting said hot well and shell, and support plates for said tubes rigidly connected to and suported from said hot well, said tubes'being bowed to accommodate expansion and contraction thereof.

3. In a condenser, a shell, a hot well, tubes in said shell, an ex ansion joint connecting said hot well and s ell, and support plates for said tubes rigidly connected to and supported from said hot well, said tubes being owed in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of inflow of steaminto the condenser.

4. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, a hot- Well, an expansion joint connecting said hot Well and shell, and support plates for said tubes supported from said hot Well, said tubes being bowed in( a plane substantially parallel to the direction of inflow of steam into the condenser.J

5. In a condenser, a shell, water boxes, tube heads connected to said water boxes, expansion joints connecting said water boxes and shell, said water boxes and tube heads being supported independently of said shell, a hot well supported independently of said shell, and an expansion joint connecting said hot well and shell.

6. In a condenser, a shell, water boxes, tube heads connected to said water boxes, tubes within said shell and connected to said tube heads, expansion joints connecting said water boxes and shell, said water boxes and tube heads being supported independently of said shell, a hot Wellsupported independently of the shell, an expansion joint connecting said hot well and shell,xr and support plates supported from said hot well whereby the water boxes, tube heads, tubes and water therein will be supported independently of said shell.

7 In a condenser, a shell, water boxes, tube heads connected to said water boxes, tubes within said shell and connected to said tube heads, expansion joints connecting said water boxes and shell, said water boxes and tube heads being supported independently of said shell, a hot well supported independently of the shell, an expansion joint connecting said hot well and shell, and support plates supported from said hot well whereby the water boxes, tube heads, tubes and water therein will be supported independently of said shell, said tubes being bowed to accommodate expansion and contraction thereof.

8. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, a hot Well, said hot well' being supported independently of said shell, an expansion oint connecting said hot well and casing, support plates for said tubes rigidly supported from said hot Well, an exhaust steam inlet, and expansion joints between said exhaust steam inlet and shell.

9. In a condenser, a shell, tubes therein, a hot well, said hot well being supported independently of said shell, an expansion joint connecting said hot well and casing, support plates for said tubes rigidly supported from said hot well, and exhaust steam inlet, and expansion joints between said exhaust steam inlet and shell, said tubes being bowed to acc f hmmodate expansion and contraction there- 0 l0.` In a condenser, a shell comprising an intermediate section and end sections, expansion joints connecting said lshell sections water boxes connected to said end sections, tube heads carried by said water boxes, and tubes extending through said shelll and havin their ends connected to said tube heads, sald tubes being bowed to permit expansion and contraction thereof, a hot well supported independently of said shell, and expansion joint between said hot well and shell, and support plates for said tubes supported from .said hot well.

11. In a condenser, a shell. comprising an intermediate section and end sections, expansion joints connecting said shell sections, water boxes connected to said end sections, tube heads carried by said water boxes, and tubes extending through said shell and havin their ends connected to said tube heads, said tubes being bowed to permit expansion and contraction thereof, a hot well supported independently of said shell, an expan'sion joint between said hot well and shell, andv support plates rigidly connected to and supported from said hot well.

12. In a condenser, a shell comprising an intermediate section and end sections, ex

pansion joints connecting said shell sections, water boxes connected to said end sections, tube heads carried by said water boxes, and tubes extending through said shell and having their ends connected to said tube heads, said tubes being bowed to permit expansion and contraction thereof, a hot well supported independently of said shell, an expansion joint between said hot well and shell, support lates rigidly connected to and supported rom said hot well, and supports for said water boxes whereby the water boxes will be supported independently of the intermediate portion of the shell.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

JOI-Htl F. GRACE. 

